ECommerce / Accepting Payments

This is my first time creating an eCommerce site with a shopping cart and inventory database. I've done some research but am still unclear about exactly how I can accept payments online. I know you must have:

1.) SSL Certificate
2.) Shopping cart and web app. designed.

now I know you can get SSL certificates from network solutions, and I can build the shopping cart, but I'm unclear about Payment gateways - merchant accounts. Can somebody please help me get this eCommerce project going by clearing up what I need to accept payments online.

I'd recommend you to use PayPal as a payment processing gateway for a simple fact that it can accept payments through multiple credit cards from various nations, plus it's more popular.

There are a various advantages of having a gateway involved when accepting payments. It'd verify information, transfers requests and authorizes credit cards in real time. For that reason you may consider Authorize.Net , CyberSource and VeriSign .